Switch



W. W. DEAN.

SWIITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY e. 1918.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

W. W. DEAN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1918.

1,821,987. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WARREN DEAN, 0F STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMINELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Original application filed May 11, 1914, Serial No. 837,844. Divided andthis application filed May 6, 1918.

Serial No. 232,678.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. DEAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to switches and, more particularly, to switchesdesigned for use in connection with the steering mechanism ofautomobiles for controlling the circuit through an electric horn, oralarm, or signal, this application bein a division of my copendingapplication Serial No. 837,844.

One of the objects of my invention resides in the production of animproved switchoperating mechanism which may be actuated by pressureapplied by the driver while his hands are grasping the wheel forsteering purposes, and irrespective of the position in which the handsare located. Another object resides in improved means for actuating theswitch mechanism, operable by the hands of the driver by exertingpressure to the rim of the steering wheel at substantially any point inits circumference. Other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription and the appended claims.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention, I have illustrated in theaccompanying drawings a specific embodiment thereof, in which Figure 1'is a plan view of the steering wheel incorporating my switch mechanism;Fig, 2 is a detail sectional View showing the method of mounting theswitch mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top annular rim of the steering wheelshowing the method of mounting the switch contacts thereon;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower annular rim of the steering wheelshowing the "method of mounting the switch contacts thereon; and 7 Fig.6is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2 illustrating my preferred means ofmaintaining the resilient operating means of the switch in position inthe wheel. As illustrated in the drawings, the rim 10 of the steeringwheel is split, the lower section 11 thereof being provided with anannular channel 12 and the upper section 13 thereof being provided withan annular flange 14, which fits and rides within the annular channel 12in the section 11.

Secured to the lower section of the steering wheel are the spokes 15,which are connected in any suitable way with the steer ing post 16.Fitted in the annular channel 12 (see Fig. 4) are a series of contactsprings, such as 17, said springs being serially interconnected byconductors, such as 18.

[Extending from the contact springs 17 at one end of said serialconnection is a conductor 20, which is wired to one terminal of theelectric alarm or signal (not shown).

Fitted in the channel 12, in addition to the contact s rings, is aplurality of spiral springs 21, w ich serve as a resilient means forseparating the upper and lower sections of the steering wheel. Thesesprings 21 may be secured in the channel 12 in any suitable manner, butI prefer to secure them to said lower section, as illustrated in detailin Fig. 5. As there shown, these spiral springs 21 encircle screws 22which fit in suitable notches 23 cut in the lower section of thesteering-wheel rim, which is secured to the upper section 13 of thesteering-wheel rim by the forward threaded ends 24 thereof.

Fig. 3 illustrates the method of mounting the contact springs 25, one ofwhich is provided to cooperate with each contact spring 17 of the lowersection, on the annular flange 14 of the upper section 13 of thesteering wheel 10. The contact springs 25 are serially interconnected bythe conductors 26, and the conductor 27 is wired to one end of saidserial connection, said conductor being connected to the other terminalof the electric alarm or signal. The conductors 20 and 27 are connectedto a twisted pair of conductors 28, which are carried down the steeringpost to the electric alarm or signal.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that, in order toclose the circuit of the alarm or signal, it is merely necessary to beardown upon the upper section 13 of the steering wheel 10 at any point inits circumference. This pressure upon the upper section 13 of thesteering wheel will move it downwardly against the compressive force ofthe springs 21, and thus the top surface of the annular flange 14approaches the floor of the channel 12. A

In this downward movement of the upper section 13, one or more of thepairs of contact springs 17 and 25 will be moved into engagement witheach other, and thus the circuit through the electric horn or signalwill be closed. It therefore follows that the circuit through theelectric horn or signal will be closed by merely exerting pres- I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A steering wheel having a' circuitclosing switch embedded in the rimthereof, and an annular pressure member disposed in said rim inoperative relation to said switch and normally projecting beyond theouter face of said rim, said pressurememher being movable toward saidswitch for actuating it, and resilient means for normally projectingsaid member.

2. A steering wheel having a rim provided with'an' annular recess in itsupper surface, an annular pressure member disposed in said recess with aportion thereof projecting normally beyond the outer surface of saidrim, a circuit-closing switch disposed in said recess between the innerwall thereof and said pressure member, and resilient means for normallyholding said pressure member projected.

3. A steering wheel comprising two'separable sections movable withrespect to each other, and a plurality of sets of seriallyconnectedcircuit-closing contact springs normally out of contact, located betweensaid sections and so disposed that the circuit will be closedirrespective of the point at which the sections of the wheel are movedtoward one another.

l. A steering wheel comprising two separable sections movable withrespect to each other, resilient means operable to normally hold. saidsections apart, and a plurality of sets of serially-connectedcircuit-closing contact springs normally out of contact, located betweensaid sections and so disposed that the circuit will be closedirrespective of the point at which the sections of the wheel are movedtoward one another.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM WARREN DEAN.

Witnesses A. G. LAGKMANN, ISAAC NEWTON TERRELL.

